performance last week. we'll tell you what he had to say and look ahead to this week's big vice presidential debate. >>> and we'll meet the creator of a blog who mocks parents who fill their twitter and facebook updates with tweets about their kids. is it too mean-spirited? we'll ask her about that. >>> and check out this massive pile-up at a nascar race this season. this all happened on the final lap. more on that story in just a moment, but we want to begin with that first major blast of winter weather across a large chunk of the nation. nbc's kevin tibbles is in chicago this morning. good morning to you. >> reporter: forgive me for looking a little confused this morning, though some would say most mornings i do, but today it's about the temperature. it is colder right now in chicago than it was during periods of last january. some people out here even had to get out their snow shovels, and it's only october. summer, fall, where have they gone so quickly? old man winter blew in to remind residents across